Jinzun fun-park - WSL / Bennett
Finalists have been decided across all divisions of the Taiwan Open of Surfing hosted by Taitung County government. The 3rd day of competition has bought with it some of the best conditions in the event's history with clean 4 foot A-frames at Jinzun Harbour.
The first person to make it through to the Men's Qualifying Series (QS) 1,500 Quarterfinal was Australia's Jackson Baker. Baker had a shocking start to the heat as he didn't make it out the back until 3 minutes had past on the clock. Once he did make it out there he found a long right-hander and threw down one of the most solid combinations of the event. The crowd went wild and Baker was rewarded with a near perfect 9.80 (out of a possible 10) and the heat win.
Jacko Baker showing serious commitment through turns. - WSL / Bennett
"That was definitely the best heat I have surfed in a while," Baker said. "It didn't start that well though -- I barely made it past the shore break. When I finally got out there and composed myself that one wave came through and was just perfect. I had so many epic sections on it. I'm really happy with how I surfed it."
The Taiwan Open of Surfing also makes up part of the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) tour. As this is the final event of the ASC tour it also decides its champion. Dede Suryana came into the Taiwan Open in front on the ASC rankings and was able to flare all event taking the Asian Surfing Championship and landing himself in the Quarterfinal of the World Surf League QS1,500.
Dede coming hard off the bottom. - WSL / Bennett
"I'm so happy to do well here in Taiwan," Suryana said. "The waves are good today, they're a bit bigger which is good for me. It's always good when the waves turn on for a contest so everyone gets a shot. I'm looking forward to the finals tomorrow."
Victorian ripper Cody Robinson continued his searing form at Jinzun Harbour today dropping the biggest Heat Total of the event so far - 17.65 out of a possible 20. Robinson moves into the Quarterfinals for the biggest result of his career.
Cody Robinson was seriously electric on his backhand at the TOOS. - WSL / Bennett
"I've been feeling good on my backhand so have been going for these lefts all event," Robinson said. "This is the furthest I've been in a contest of this size so I'm super keen to keep going and am confident I could take it out."
As the event is co-sanctioned between the WSL regions of Australasia and Japan, it is the event that decides the regional QS champion for the two. Reo Inaba was able to take out his heat and therefor the Japan QS. This enables Inaba a spot in all of the QS6,000 and 10,000 events for the first half of 2017.
Reo Anaba, the 2016 WSL Japan QS Champion - WSL / Bennett
"I'm so happy," Inaba said. "All I want is to surf in the big QS events and in the Hawaiian Triple Crown and now I can. I came really close last year but just missed so this feels so good. It would have to be my best achievement."
Young American Longboarder Kevin Skvarna put on an amazing show in his Longboard Qualifying Series Quarterfinal. Riding a more traditional style single fin longboard, Skvarna finds it more appropriate to ride the nose. He did this with spades of style and through the critical sections of the wave to win his way into the Men's LQS Semifinal.
Skvarna on the nose. - WSL / Bennett
"The waves are so pumping out there, just perfect," Skvarna said. "I ride a single-fin so when I need a score I find nose riding to be my best tactic. That was just so fun and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings."
Hailing from Reunion Island, Justine Mauvin is no stranger to long left-handers, not to dissimilar to the ones on offer at Jinzun Harbour today. Mauvin comfortably moved into the Women's LQS final as she enjoyed the pumping surf on her first trip to Taiwan.
Justine Mauvin styling her way into the final. - WSL / Hain
"I absolutely love it here, it's beautiful, the people are nice and the waves are so perfect," Mauvin said. "When I arrived this morning I could not believe it, I didn't realize the waves go this good here. It was so perfect for both longboarding and shortboards, it's a great event."
Although he came just short of making the Quarterfinals of the QS1,500 event, Shane Holmes' equal 9th means that he has finished on top of the WSL Australasia QS rankings. Winning the regional QS has given Holmes a seed into all of the QS6,000 and 10,000 events for 2017, something Holmes was not setting out to do at the beginning of the year.
Shane Holmes wins the 2016 WSL Australasia QS. - WSL / Bennett
"I'm so stoked to have taken it out," Holmes said. "This was not something I ever really planned on doing but started to get a few results. Now it is time to head home and get stuck into some training and get serious for the QS next year. It will be a big summer of working and saving for all of the travel next year but I'm so stoked."
Masatoshi Ohno performs for an onlooker. - WSL / Bennett
What competitors woke to this morning. - WSL / Bennett
Chris Zaffis finding shade. - WSL / Bennett
Jack Entwistle getting tracked. - WSL / Bennett
Blake levvet had a standout event at the TOOS. - WSL / Bennett
The lefts on offer were pretty good as well. - WSL / Bennett
Lliam Mortenson finished in equal 9th. - WSL / Bennett
Nic Jones swooping. - WSL / Bennett
Surf fans in Taiwan are dedicated. - WSL / Bennett
Tony Silvagni. - WSL
Shuji Nishi was a standout on Day 3. - WSL
Natsumi Taoka from Japan will surf in the Women's LQS final. - WSL / Hain
Alice Lemoigne. - WSL / Bennett
Oney Anwar on a tear. - WSL / Bennett
Louis Gilick. - WSL / Bennett
Edouard Delpero. - WSL / Bennett
Pristine Conditions at Jinzun Harbour Set Finalists of Taiwan Open of Surfing
WSL
Finalists have been decided across all divisions of the Taiwan Open of Surfing hosted by Taitung County government. The 3rd day of competition has bought with it some of the best conditions in the event's history with clean 4 foot A-frames at Jinzun Harbour.
The first person to make it through to the Men's Qualifying Series (QS) 1,500 Quarterfinal was Australia's Jackson Baker. Baker had a shocking start to the heat as he didn't make it out the back until 3 minutes had past on the clock. Once he did make it out there he found a long right-hander and threw down one of the most solid combinations of the event. The crowd went wild and Baker was rewarded with a near perfect 9.80 (out of a possible 10) and the heat win.
"That was definitely the best heat I have surfed in a while," Baker said. "It didn't start that well though -- I barely made it past the shore break. When I finally got out there and composed myself that one wave came through and was just perfect. I had so many epic sections on it. I'm really happy with how I surfed it."
The Taiwan Open of Surfing also makes up part of the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) tour. As this is the final event of the ASC tour it also decides its champion. Dede Suryana came into the Taiwan Open in front on the ASC rankings and was able to flare all event taking the Asian Surfing Championship and landing himself in the Quarterfinal of the World Surf League QS1,500.
"I'm so happy to do well here in Taiwan," Suryana said. "The waves are good today, they're a bit bigger which is good for me. It's always good when the waves turn on for a contest so everyone gets a shot. I'm looking forward to the finals tomorrow."
Victorian ripper Cody Robinson continued his searing form at Jinzun Harbour today dropping the biggest Heat Total of the event so far - 17.65 out of a possible 20. Robinson moves into the Quarterfinals for the biggest result of his career.
"I've been feeling good on my backhand so have been going for these lefts all event," Robinson said. "This is the furthest I've been in a contest of this size so I'm super keen to keep going and am confident I could take it out."
As the event is co-sanctioned between the WSL regions of Australasia and Japan, it is the event that decides the regional QS champion for the two. Reo Inaba was able to take out his heat and therefor the Japan QS. This enables Inaba a spot in all of the QS6,000 and 10,000 events for the first half of 2017.
"I'm so happy," Inaba said. "All I want is to surf in the big QS events and in the Hawaiian Triple Crown and now I can. I came really close last year but just missed so this feels so good. It would have to be my best achievement."
Young American Longboarder Kevin Skvarna put on an amazing show in his Longboard Qualifying Series Quarterfinal. Riding a more traditional style single fin longboard, Skvarna finds it more appropriate to ride the nose. He did this with spades of style and through the critical sections of the wave to win his way into the Men's LQS Semifinal.
"The waves are so pumping out there, just perfect," Skvarna said. "I ride a single-fin so when I need a score I find nose riding to be my best tactic. That was just so fun and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings."
Hailing from Reunion Island, Justine Mauvin is no stranger to long left-handers, not to dissimilar to the ones on offer at Jinzun Harbour today. Mauvin comfortably moved into the Women's LQS final as she enjoyed the pumping surf on her first trip to Taiwan.
"I absolutely love it here, it's beautiful, the people are nice and the waves are so perfect," Mauvin said. "When I arrived this morning I could not believe it, I didn't realize the waves go this good here. It was so perfect for both longboarding and shortboards, it's a great event."
Although he came just short of making the Quarterfinals of the QS1,500 event, Shane Holmes' equal 9th means that he has finished on top of the WSL Australasia QS rankings. Winning the regional QS has given Holmes a seed into all of the QS6,000 and 10,000 events for 2017, something Holmes was not setting out to do at the beginning of the year.
"I'm so stoked to have taken it out," Holmes said. "This was not something I ever really planned on doing but started to get a few results. Now it is time to head home and get stuck into some training and get serious for the QS next year. It will be a big summer of working and saving for all of the travel next year but I'm so stoked."
Taiwan Open of Surfing
Oney Anwar, Edouard Delpero and Honolua Blomfield victorious across QS and LQS events at Jinzun Harbor.
Despite strong winds, there were solid performances across both longboard and shortboard disciplines.
The wind and the waves showed up for Day 1 of the last QS for WSL Japan and Australasia regions.
QS and LQS hit the water as Jinzun Harbour turns on for Day 2 of the Taiwan Open of Surfing Hosted by Taitung County.
Strong winds and pumping surf greet competitors on Day 1 at The Taiwan Open of Surfing hosted by Taitung County.
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